Following on from the last Wales Ales article looking at Gluten Free beers and Gower IPA, a number of people who know I judge at the Champion Beer of Wales have asked why there are not more categories, specifically for IPAs? Now this is a very valid point, however just looking at IPAs brings up a whole host of sub-categories like Black IPA, Double IPA, British, American, Red, Rye, Milkshake and so on. So I thought I’d take the opportunity to delve a little deeper into the world of IPAs and see what’s happening in Wales.
So firstly, a bit of background to the long history of IPAs. So what is IPA? The initials stand for India pale ale. It was the answer to the problem of providing beer for the British Empire in the east. It was too hot to brew in India, so what was needed was a beer that could survive the gruelling six-month journey from Britain intact. In the 1780s, a London brewer called Hodgson answered the call by sending out a strong, heavily hopped beer called October ale that would normally be aged like wine before drinking. The beer not only survived the journey, but was found to have improved immeasurably. This was the prototype IPA; the beer gradually became paler and more refreshing to suit the Indian climate.
Role on a century or two and this style had all but died out and had been watered down to a poor imitation of it’s former self, that is until the boom in Craft Brewing in America gave it a new lease of life and with it a whole variety of twists and tweaks which has then in turn found itself returning to Britain but in a variety of forms. So let’s have a look at just a few variations on IPA you’ll find throughout Wales.
Traditional IPA: Mumbles Brewery IPA – A recipe authentic to the ales designed to withstand the voyage to India before the Suez Canal was built! A strong beer made with Goldings and Fuggles hops – the first varieties created in Victorian times. A traditional India Pale Ale, gold in colour, giving a distinct taste and aroma. The beer is rounded and full bodied, making it easy to drink. No wonder it was crowned the Champion beer at CAMRA Swansea Bay Festival 2016.
Double IPA: DIPAs as they’re affectionally known are IPAs with a higher hop concentration. 
To balance all that hop flavor, the brewer uses more malt, which results in a higher ABV (usually over 7%). It’s an IPA on steroids and Wales have some great examples including Dog’s Window‘s aptly named ‘Mutts Nuts’ at 7.5% and Bang-On’s ‘Big Rhys’ at 8.3% and if that’s not enough how about the recent collaboration between Tenby Brewery and Beer Riff, Intersellar Citra romping in at an eye-watering 9.3%!
New England Style IPA: Very much the Beer of 2017, many Welsh brewers are now turning their hand to this style. This IPA is unfiltered (which makes it hazy) and has extremely low bitterness from using blends of hops that lend intense, fruity flavor. New England style IPAs are often dry-hopped and tend to be fermented to have lower carbonation. These beers look like orange juice and is the IPA for the “I don’t like IPAs,” person in your life, which might be why they’re so popular right now. Notable NEIPAs include the recent Tiny Rebel collaboration with Deya, Dog’s Window – NEIPA and Zepto Brewhouse – Ninja
Black IPA: The now defunct Otley Brewery couldn’t have chosen a better name than Oxymoron for their Black IPA, which perfectly sums up this style. A beer style roughly defined as a beer with IPA-level hopping, relatively high alcohol and a distinct toasty dark malt character. Typically lacks the roastiness and body of a strong stout and is hoppier than a strong porter. If you’re looking for a good example then the new girls on the block at Arcadian Brewery have released their take on a Black IPA called Slow Wave, a silky smooth jet black IPA packed with Simcoe & Amarillo hops. Oats & Wheat provide a sliky smooth body while the dark malts give just enough balance to let the citrus fruit and pine character of the hops shine through.
In part 2 we’ll be looking at other IPAs such as Tropical, West Coast and Milkshakes, no not those type of milkshakes, these are too good to throw at any politician!
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